Display device

Abstract

A display device includes: a flexible display panel having a display area variably exposed in a first direction and including a conductive pattern; a sensing pattern positioned to correspond to the conductive pattern in the first direction; and a controller sensing a current flowing to one of the conductive pattern and the sensing pattern to display an image corresponding to the display area of the flexible display panel in the flexible display panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device, comprising:
 a flexible display panel having a display area that is variably exposed in a first direction, the flexible display panel including a conductive pattern; 
 a sensing pattern positioned to correspond to the conductive pattern in the first direction; and 
 a controller sensing a current flowing to one of the conductive pattern and the sensing pattern and determining an exposed area of the display area, the controller controlling a display of an image in the flexible display panel to correspond to the exposed area of the display area of the flexible display panel. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensing pattern and the conductive pattern are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
       3. The display device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the controller includes:
 a voltage unit supplying a voltage to the conductive pattern and the sensing pattern, and 
 a sensing unit sensing a current flowing to the conductive pattern. 
 
     
     
       4. The display device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensing pattern and the conductive pattern contact each other. 
     
     
       5. The display device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the sensing pattern includes a first sub-sensing pattern and a second sub-sensing pattern spaced apart from each other in the first direction, and 
 the controller includes:
 a voltage unit respectively supplying a voltage to the first sub-sensing pattern and the second sub-sensing pattern; and 
 a sensing unit sensing the current flowing to the sensing pattern. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The display device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a housing for receiving a varying region of the flexible display panel in the first direction such that the display area of the flexible display panel is variably exposed by the housing in the first direction. 
     
     
       7. The display device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a roll unit provided in the housing, the flexible display panel being wound on the roll unit. 
     
     
       8. The display device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the sensing pattern is provided inside the housing corresponding to the conductive pattern. 
     
     
       9. The display device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one end of the flexible display panel contacts a plate surface of the flexible display panel provided in the first direction when a first area of the flexible display panel is variably bent such that the display area of the flexible display panel is variably exposed in the first direction. 
     
     
       10. The display device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the sensing pattern is positioned at one end of the flexible display panel. 
     
     
       11. The display device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conductive pattern is arranged on the flexible display panel according to the first direction. 
     
     
       12. The display device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the conductive pattern includes a plurality of sub-patterns spaced apart from each other in the first direction. 
     
     
       13. The display device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the sub-patterns are gradually lengthened or shortened in a second direction crossing the first direction according to a positioning along the first direction. 
 
     
     
       14. The display device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the conductive pattern is gradually lengthened or shortened in a second direction crossing the first direction according to a positioning along the first direction.